Phone: 303.360.5360 Online Exhibit of Aircraft
1939
J-3-65 Piper Cub
Civilian Aircraft
Manufactured by Piper
The 65 horsepower Piper Cub was first approved in 1937 as a new entry into a
long line of "cub-type" aircraft extending back into the early 1930's. Thousands
of "Piper Cubs" were built until the plane was phased out in 1975. You can still
buy a J-3-65 "Piper Cub", but it will mount a 150 or 180 horsepower engine rather
than the old 65 horsepower Continental and it will be called a "Super Cub".
These Super Cubs can be seen all over the world where they are widely used by
back-country pilots. They are good "short field" performers.
At one time, J-3-65 Piper Cubs were everywhere in the world. They were usually
tied down outside in the weather and often deteriorated quite rapidly. Today,
the J-3-65 is hard to find. Those who like the breed will need to pay 25 to 30
thousand dollars for a licensed J-3-65 Piper Cub. This is roughly twenty times
what they sold for in 1937.
The J-3-65 Piper Cub was used to train thousands of pilots in peacetime as well
as wartime. . Prior to and during World War Two, the J-3-65 Cub was a popular
trainer in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. It was known as the L-4 by the
U. S. Army where it was used for liaison and courier duties as well as by forward
observers who served as spotters for artillery and ground attack aircraft.
With a cruising speed of 80 miles per hour, the Piper Cub is a very stable machine,
easy to fly and quite docile. In the hands of a good Cub pilot, the ship can
do a number of primary aerobatic maneuvers and do them very well. It was and
is a great airplane for the sport pilots who fly on warm Sunday afternoons.
Specifications
- Role/Category: Civilian
- Powerplant: 65 horsepower Continental engine
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